Are you tired of coolers that don’t keep things cold? Fed up with coolers that say they’ll keep things cold all day, but in reality the ice is melting after a few hours? Do you want a cooler that is durable and will last you for years to come? Well, if this is the case, you should take a look at Yeti coolers, perhaps the best brand name of coolers on the market right now.
To help you choose which Yeti model is right for your needs at the beach, we’ve gathered this simple guide to the best options available. To find out which beach cooler is right for you, here are 5 of the best products on the market:
Comparison Chart
Best Yeti Cooler for the Beach Reviewed
1. YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler
Review
If you need a really good portable cooler, one that will keep all of your cans and drinks cold for hours on end, this YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler is a really superb option to keep in mind. It's quality is virtually unsurpassed by any other manufacturer of coolers.
The YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler is made with a DryHide shell, which is totally waterproof, puncture and tear resistant, and just quite durable overall. It should be able to withstand pretty much anything and everything that you could put it through. It is even resistant to mildew, something which many coolers tend to suffer from. Moreover, this one comes with a 100% waterproof zipper, so even when the ice on the inside does melt, the water will not leak out all over the place.
To keep your drinks cold for hours to come, the YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler features ColdCell insulation. It is a type of closed-cell foam which can keep the cool in and the heat out from morning to night without much trouble. The capacity here is alright, as it can hold 6 cans plus ice, keeping a 2:1 ice to can ratio in mind. The cooler itself is not too large, which might be bad for capacity, but this does make it quite portable. There is also the fact that the YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler does not weigh very much, another factor that helps increase portability.
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2. YETI Hopper Backflip 24 Soft Sided Cooler/Backpack
Review
The perfect combination of a cooler and a backpack, this YETI is perfect for taking on the go. It’s designed to not only offer you the cool location that you need to keep drinks and food fresh, but also to be very easy and comfortable to carry for longer periods of time.
The shell of this YETI is designed to not only help keep the inside cool and prevent ice from melting, but also to be durable enough to stand up to regular use. It’s made from a waterproof fabric that is resistant to punctures, UV damage, and mildew. This means that you won’t have to worry about the fabric shell becoming damaged when camping or hiking.
With a durable inside liner that is made from an FDA-approved food-grade material, you won’t ever have to worry about the safety or condition of the food you have stored in this cooler. In between the outside and the liner is a durable closed-cell rubber foam. This foam does a wonderful job of keeping items cold and retaining cold from your ice and ice packs.
Although there isn’t extra storage on or in this backpack for phones or keys, you can have your hands completely free when wearing it. The durable straps also feature a hip and chest buckle so that the backpack can be adjusted to sit correctly on the body, without putting a lot of pressure or strain on the back. Additionally, there are straps on the sides of the cooler to make lifting it easy and to prevent the top handle from breaking.
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3. YETI Roadie 20 Cooler
Review
If you need to bring lots of drinks and keep food cool on the road, the YETI Roadie 20 Cooler is a really good option to keep in mind. It is big, it has lots of room, and it is very durable too.
The YETI Roadie 20 Cooler features a great insulation system known as permafrost insulation, which is over 3 inches thick and has been shown to keep the contents cold for a longer time than most other coolers on the market right now. Not only does this cooler keep drinks cold for a really long time, it can also hold quite a few of them, with a can capacity of 14. It is recommended that you use an ice to can ratio of 2:1 for the very best results. This will ensure that your drinks stay as cool for as long as possible.
Another great aspect of the YETI Roadie 20 Cooler is that it is pretty much an armored box. It has super-thick walls, is made of solid materials, and is even bear proof. You can drop this bad boy all you want, and it will not come apart. It also features Rex Lid Latches, which hold the lid firmly in place; they prevent leaking, and they prevent any unwanted guests from raiding the cooler.
The YETI Roadie 20 Cooler features an easy to use drain so you can drain out melted water whenever you need to. One thing that does need to be said about this thing is that it is quite big and heavy, so portability is a bit limited here.
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4. YETI Tundra 35 Cooler
Review
Not only do you have a few choices of colors to choose from when opting for this high-quality YETI cooler, but you won’t have to worry about how long your ice will last to keep food and drinks cold. There is ample space inside the cooler not only for ice, but also for food, ensuring that items stay cold on your trip.
Thanks to the high-quality construction of the cooler and the thick walls, this cooler can easily keep ice frozen even in the direct sun. Additionally, the thick design of the walls is certified to stand up to bears, which means that users don’t have to worry about an animal breaking the cooler and stealing the food.
With molded tie-down slots on this cooler, it’s easy to take it on the go. It’s simple to mount it to a truck, boat, or trailer and then not worry about it bouncing around when on the go. The hinge system is designed to last for years, without ever failing, and features an interlocking design that is durable.
Finally, the lip grip handles on this cooler make it easy to lift and carry, even when it is full of ice and drinks. The handles are designed to support the full weight of the cooler without being damaged, which makes it easy to transport, even when lifting it up into a truck or down from a boat.
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5. YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
Review
If you need an absolutely massive cooler to fit all of your drinks and food that need to stay cold, the YETI Tundra 65 Cooler is a great way to go. It might not be the most portable option out there, but it’s perfect if you’re heading to the beach and you have a large family.
Seriously folks, the YETI Tundra 65 Cooler keeps drinks and contents cool for up to 7 days, which is of course ridiculously impressive. It is about 30 inches long and well insulated, which means if it’s a hot day at the beach, you can be assured your drinks will remain cool the whole day.
With that being said, it has an insane amount of room on the inside, with enough space for close to 50 cans, plus ice too. The super thick walls with Permafrost insulation do a great job at keeping everything cold.
The YETI Tundra 65 Cooler features a specially molded construction which means that it is pretty much an armored case for beverages and food. It is virtually indestructible, which can also be said for the special locking mechanisms. The latches are specially designed to be super durable, plus they will not let any animals in. The hinges here are also very nice, as they allow for a smooth opening and close every single time.
The YETI Tundra 65 Cooler might not exactly be the most portable cooler out there, but it has a super high capacity, it keeps contents cold for nearly a week, and it is very tough and rugged too.
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Choosing the Top Outdoor Yeti Cooler: Buyer’s Guide
Relaxing on the warm sunny day at a sandy beach and enjoying the water necessitates having a quality cooler to keep your beverages and food chilled and fresh. The Yeti brand is a leader in providing rigid coolers for everyday use and incorporating product innovation that gives you a range of top quality and versatile coolers.
By choosing Yeti it helps to narrow your search but there are still factors to consider before you can narrow your options towards making a final decision. The following is a list of things to consider during your process of choosing your Yeti cooler:
Size and Capacity
At the top of your list of considerations should be the size of the cooler and the internal capacity. You will need to determine how much you will be storing in the cooler to decide the size and capacity of the cooler you will need. A good rule of thumb is the more ice you have the better; you should try to have at least a 2-to-1 ratio of ice to product. Also, you should ensure there is sufficient space so the ice can surround your beverages.
A few other items to consider in choosing the size of your cooler include the following:
Use(s): Are you intending to use the cooler for a day at the beach or for a weekend trip or longer?
Dimensions: Make sure your Yeti cooler will fit in the vehicle you will be transporting it in.
Weight: Determine the weight of your cooler, filled with ice and products, ensuring that 1 or 2 individuals are able to carry it from your vehicle to the beach and back. An option may be to consider investing in a beach wagon to assist in transporting your cooler and other items.
Style
Yeti offers a variety of both hard and soft sided coolers for your consideration. Soft sided coolers are easier to carry and are very portable. Yeti offers several options including backpacks, totes, and a lunch box style with a handle. The downside of a soft sided option is that they offer less cooling time for your beverages and other products, when compared to the hard sided cooler.
A hard sided cooler offers an extended cooling time, is more durable, offers more insulation and thus is a more reliable cooling system and is ideal when portability is not a major factor.
Durability
There are a lot of quality aspects that make choosing a Yeti a great decision; foremost is the quality of design and construction, making all of their coolers extremely durable and long lasting. When you are purchasing a quality cooler you want to ensure your investment is going to last and continue to function effectively.
The materials, closure gaskets, hinges, handles, straps, and harnesses should all be of the highest quality. Any of these components that fail will impact the effectiveness and longevity of the cooler.
Cost
Generally you get what you pay for, however it is not always true that the more expensive means the better the product. When you focus on high quality, high performance coolers, like Yeti products, your investment provides an optimal functioning cooler that is durable and long-lasting.
Lower cost, less quality items often will not perform effectively when exposed to the beach environment and are likely to break down much quicker requiring purchasing a replacement.
Maintenance
Coolers generally require minimal maintenance, however a day at the beach exposes them to the elements, requiring them to be cleaned and maintained. Some soft-sided coolers are designed to be tossed into a washing machine for quick and easy cleaning. We would recommend hand cleaning the majority of time, with an occasional machine wash to limit the wear and extend the product's life.
A hard-sided cooler should be rinsed and washed out using fresh, clean water and a mild dish soap and then thoroughly rinsing. Wipe clean and allow to completely air dry before storing.
Refer to your Yeti Owner’s Manual for additional cleaning guidelines. The quality design and construction of a Yeti makes for easy cleaning and allows you to safely use bleach or vinegar or even a pressure sprayer to clean difficult stains or odors.
Cooler Weight and Transporting
The distance and terrain you will need to traverse when transporting your cooler will factor into your decision. Size is a factor in the weight of an individual cooler, as well as how much ice and products you will be putting into the cooler. The thickness of the insulation will also factor into the weight of the cooler.
Your decision should be based on the length of cooling time you will need. Longer periods will require thicker insulation and thus a heavier cooler. For shorter periods of time and where portability is a priority less insulation and smaller coolers may be your choice.
Cooler weights can vary by several pounds. The Yeti products we have recommended range from 11 pounds to 31.5 pounds.
Keepin’ It Cool
The length of time you plan to be at the beach should guide you decision-making. Longer or extended trips will require a beach cooler that has thick insulation to maintain your items staying cooled. The type of products you will be taking to the beach will have an impact as well. There is a difference in how cool different items will need to remain, for example: beverages or snacks and food or items will have less cooling requirements versus items like ice cream or freeze pops that will require significantly more cooling.
Yeti offers a variety of sizes and designs for you to choose from that will accommodate your individual needs. You can count on a product that provides an air-tight seal with solid gasket closures, are extremely durable and sturdy, are ergonomically designed and incorporate the latest product innovations.
Final Thoughts
While all of the 5 beach coolers on this list are great options that will offer you ease, convenience and durability while visiting the shore, there is certainly one brand that stands above the rest. YETI is a highly rated and reviewed brand by happy customers around the world because of the durable build and reliability of their products. For that reason, along with the convenient features on these 2 models, we highly recommend the YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler for highly portable and smaller in size option and the YETI Tundra 65 Cooler for a large and high capacity model. However, no matter which option you choose on this list, it’ll keep your food and beverages plenty cold for a fun adventure at the seaside or a picnic at the beach.
If this guide has helped you to choose the right beach cooler for your needs at the shore, tell us about it in the comments section below! Additionally, check out other Seaside Planet beach gear reviews and guides like the Best Beach Chairs for the Beach, the Best Waterproof Radio for the Beach, and the Best Beach Games for Families.
Megan Jones leads the editorial staff of Seaside Planet. They are a multidisciplinary team of outdoor adventurers, water sports lovers, and passionate beach goers. You can learn more about Meg and the rest of the editorial team here.